Mail-box.



N. R. SHEETS & W. E. BARLOW.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13. 1907.

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N. R. SHEETS & W. E. BARLOW.

MAIL BOX.

APPLIOATION'FILED JUNE13, 1907. 926,613 Patented June 29. 1909.

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UNKTED STATES PATEN FFICE.

NIAL R. SJEFITS A1; D \YILLlAM E. HARLOW, OF \YlUlIlTA, LANSAS; sun Sllli JlS ASSIGNOR .TO HENRY COLLINS, OF WIQHITA, KANSAS.

IVIAIL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29", 1909.

Application filed June 13, 1907. Serial No. 378,859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, NIAL R. Si-rnn'rs and WILLIAM E. Bamiow, citizens of the United States, residing at Wichita, in the county of Sedgwick and State of Kansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail- Boxes, of which the following is a specifica tion.

This invention relates to mail boxes designed more particularly for use on rural free delivery routes, but capable of other uses, and one ol the principal objects ol the invention is to provide a pivoted box and an immovable cover therefor, the box being adapted to be moved upon its pivots to swing out from under the cover to permit access to the interior of the box.

Another object of the invention is to provide a post having a yoke secured to the upper end thereof between the members of which the boxis pivoted and the cover of the box being rigidly secured between said members so that the box can be swung out from under the cover for gaining access to the box.

Another object of the invention'is to provide a signal for indicating that mail has been placed in the box, said signal comprising a pivoted plate connected to the cover and adapted to be swung up in position to indicate that letters have been placed in the box and to be swung down out of indicating position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combined letter clip, change holder, and handle for moving the box and swinging it in position to give access to its contents.

These and other objects may be attained by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a mail box and post made in accordance with our invcntion. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same and showing in dotted lines, the position of the box body when swung on its pivots from under the cover. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a slightly modified form of our invention. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4--lof Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a similar view of a box body of oval shape, which we may utilize. Fig. 6 is a cross section of the post shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken through the combined letter clip, change holder and handle. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 9 illustrates a modi'lication showing the manner in which three mail boxes may be secured to finger post. Fig. .10 is a plan view of a bracket which may be utilized for holding four mail boxes in position upon a single post. Fig. 11 a sideclevation of the box provided with a spring letter clip connected with the box for holding letters. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the spring clip.

Referring to F 1 and 2 of the drawing, the nnnierai. 1 designates a tubular post secured to the lower end oi which is an anchor 2 placed in the ground and adapted. to hoid the tubular post 1 in rigid, upright position. Fitted in the upper end of the post 1 a bracket 3 having outwardly extending arn'is t. Secured to the bracket 3 by means of screws or bolts 4 is a yoke 6, said yoke being provided with parallel members 7, the upper ends ol which are curled, as at S. Pivotcd between the members 7 upon the screws or trunnions 9 is the rectangular box body having an inclined upper edge 11. The box is pivoted above the horizontal center so that 7 said box will always swing to assume an upfl right position by gravity. .Rigidly secured between the members i toning screws 13 passing through the arms 7 and through the sides of the Lit-)1V111V'1l-1Ill) cx tending flange 14 of said cover. Pivotally connected to the top ol" the cover 12 is a'signal 15 comprising a piece oi sheet metal connected to a suitable pintle 16 pivoted in brackets 17, said pintle being provided with a central downturned portion 18 to bear against the cover .12 l or holding the signal in upright position, and a suitable linger piece 19 for o )eratiiw' the si -nal. A s )rin to 20 is secured to the cross bar of the yoke 6 by means of one of the screws 5, said top having a stop shoulder 21 against winch the lower is a cover 12,. the fas corner of the box body 10 comes in contact when in upright position.

Referring to .l igs. 7 and 8 which show a comblnod letter clip, change pocket and handle, the numeral 22 designates a spring tongue formed of sheet metal struck up to l orni a change pocket .23, the side portions of which a re curled as at 24, and a. wire bail has its ends secured in the curled portions 24, and is bent downnaird at '35 and upward to form the parallel arms 26 which are connected by a cross bar ing the box body 10 forward. The letter clip and handle are secured to the upper edge of the box body 10 by inserting the edge of 27 to form a handle for tilt the box between the portion of the handle and the change pocket 23, thus the inner wall of the box body forms the inner wall of the change pocket. By use of this device outgoing mail can he placed in the clip and the necessary amount to cover the postage may he placed in the pocket 23.

As shown in Figs. 3, e, 5 and 6, wherein slight modifications are shown, the numeral 28 in Figs. 3 and 4 shows a box hody of circular form in cross section, which is pivoted at 29 to cars extending outward from the box body, said ears passing through the arms 30 of the yoke, and said yoke is secured to an angle iron post 31 having outwardly turned anchoring feet 32. The cover 33 is secured by means of rivets 34 to the arms 30 of the yoke.

As shown in Fig. 5 the box body 35 is shown as oval in cross section, and it will he understood that any suitable shape may he given to the hex body without interfering with the operation of the same.

Referring to Fig. 9 in which three mail boxes are supported upon the post the brackets 36 are secured to the post by bolts 37 and connected to the brackets 36 by bolts 38 are the yokes 39 to which the mail boxes are pivoted, said yokes being bolted at 40 to the bracket 3. The upper box is secured to the post in the same manner as that shown in Fi 1.

Q in Fig. 10 a tour armed bracket 41 1s shown, said bracket designed to be secured to the u oer end of the 0st 1 iorsu OliZlD 1 O tour mall boxes.

LS shown in Figs. 11 and 12 a spring clip 42 is provided which engages the upper ec ge of the mail box and is designed for the purpose of holding letters for the carrier.

From the foregoing it will he obvious that a mail box made in accordance with our invention is of simple construction, is easy to operate, to gain access to the contents of the hoX, that the rigid cover serves to prevent the entry of snow or ice to the box, and that the letter clip, change pocket and handle are simple and efficient for the purposes designed.

Having thus fully descr'hed the invention, what is claimed as new is:-

A mail box and supporting device therefor comprising a metal post, a yoke secured to the upper end of said post, a mail hox provided with an open upper end and an inclined upper edge, said mail box being pivoted above its horizontal center in said yoke so that it will always assume an upright position by ravity, an inclined cover having a marginal flange, said cover being rigidly connected to said yoke above the inclined upper edge of the mail box, and a sprin stop secured to said yoke for holding the 'oox in an upright position under said cover.

In testimony whe 'eoi we ai'iiX our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

NIAL R. SHEETS. WILLIAM E. BARLOW'.

V' itnesses:

J. G. MILTNER, J. 0. BECK. 

